Canada’s federal election is getting hot, with immigration karb and US President Donald Trump’s policies on the center stage. During an important French language debate in Montreal, Liberal Party leader Mark Carney and Conservative Party leader Pierre Pilevre emphasized the need for continuous immigration restrictions. Carney said, “The system is not working, especially after epidemic. Our population has increased by almost three percent due to immigration and hence we need a cap for a certain period.” According to Carney, this hat will remain in place “for a few years”.
Poilievre echoed similar feelings, advocating to ensure that the population advocated to reduce the immigration level to grow rapidly than the available housing, jobs or healthcare. “I think we should return to the level of immigration so that the population never grows faster than the number of homes, jobs or healthcare,” he said.
The debate was also greatly influenced by the presence of US President Donald Trump, especially his trade policies and threats against Canada. Carney highlighted the importance of strength in dealing with Trump, saying, “He respects the force. He respects those who know how the world works and how the private sector works.” Carney emphasized the need for Canada for “the world’s new reliable partnership”.
In contrast, Poilievre focused on expanding Canada’s natural resource exports, including energy in countries beyond the US. He said that exporting liquidized natural gas in India can reduce emissions to 2.5 billion tonnes, which is equal to three times the total emission of Canada.
He said, “If we export our liquidized natural gas to India, then to change coal, which can reduce emissions in India by 2.5 billion tons.
The leaders also exchanged the blasts over their economic policies, in which Polyre criticized Carney, who criticizes “like Justin Trudeau”. Carney responded by insisting his ability to manage crises and effectively deal with Trump. “We are in a crisis. The most serious crisis of our life is,” Carney said. “We have to react with strength, which will allow us to succeed with Trump.”
Other prominent players of the debate included the block cubecis leader Yaves-Franceswa Blanchet and the new Democratic Party leader Jagamet Singh. The discussion touched the situation in international affairs, especially Gaza and Ukraine, Singh suppressed Carney to accept the position of Gaza as a “genocide”. Carney described it as “frightening”, but did not politicize the issue.
The final debate in English will be ahead of the Canadian elections on 28 April in Montreal on Thursday evening.